WHEN God calls there is no mistaking the nature of the message. It is always a call to something higher, to that better part of us that must give all for Christ. This great forsaking or falling away of earthly aspirations, spoken of in the sixth chapter of Isaiah, must take place in our consciousness; and then the true seed will be revealed, "the holy seed shall be the substance thereof." That is the true seed planted by our heavenly Father, which shall increase and multiply and replenish the earth.
By a series of prophetic visions, and through his own experience, Isaiah had been lifted into a conscious perception of the holiness of God. In symbolic terms he described the throne and seraphims as about the throne of God, crying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts." The word "seraphims" is from the Hebrew, meaning "burners" or "burning ones." These seraphic beings stand for purity; and in this instance fire denotes the necessary purification or testing for all who are ready for God's service. The old dread of a consuming fire is changed to joy when it is learned that only the dross can be destroyed, leaving the true substance pure and undefiled.
In deep humility Isaiah, stricken by a sense of unworthiness, cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips." Then one of the seraphims touched his lips with a live coal from the altar, and in that moment of purification came to Isaiah the conviction of iniquity pardoned and sin purged. After this came the call of God, "Whom shall I send?" and the prophet, cleansed and inspired, answered, "Here am I; send me."
To every Christian Scientist must come uplifting times when he is brought face to face with spiritual facts—the allness of God, the pureness of real being; and in those moments of surrender to God, to Truth, comes the longing to serve, to give, to follow humbly, gladly, in the light of that revelation, and in answer to the spiritual call. Sometimes the call comes when we feel desolate and alone, unable to make a decision or to see the way clearly; and the arguments of error are scarcely distinguishable from the voice saying, "Whom shall I send?" "Send me," we answer, though we know that this may not necessarily refer to a material moving, but, possibly, to a changed outlook and a willingness to do His will just where we are. To human sense this may seem the hardest way, but God's demands are always just; and when the vision is clear, the way is clear also. No wrong counsel can prevail, and nothing can cause us to fear; for human thought which has been touched with the live coal of Truth is holy and sanctified—His anointed. As our beloved Leader writes on page 347 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "God is responsible for the mission of those whom He has anointed. Those who know no will but His take His hand, and from the night He leads to light. None can say unto Him, What doest Thou?"
It was the mission of the prophets to arouse the people from materialism and sin, to awaken them to God's divine purpose. In all ages God's children are "called" to perceive God as Spirit and to understand His divine purpose. Throughout history this redeeming purpose can be traced, until a greater prophet, Christ Jesus, should appear. His call to Christendom still echoes down the centuries, "Follow me"! It came to Matthew, "sitting at the receipt of custom," and "he left all, . . . and followed him." It came to Simon Peter and Andrew, to James and John, sons of Zebedee, and they left all, and followed the Master. It comes to each one of us to-day.
Each of us must learn to give up all for Christ, and work as "fishers of men." Let us be ready when that call comes, for there is only one thing for the Christian Scientist to do— His will; one way—the Christ-way; one aim—to establish the spiritual idea in place of the material sense of existence; to comfort those who mourn; to love, as our beloved Leader did, and to utilize divine Love not for selfish aims, but to bless all mankind.
The Christian Scientist must be alert and watchful in order not to miss the opportunities God gives. We ask for a sign; but do we always recognize that which we have craved to see? Perhaps, having outlined the way guidance should come, our thoughts being filled with some preconceived plan of our own, we have failed to see that the very thing we have prayed for we have passed by. Many a puzzled worker wonders why certain undesirable conditions seem to go on interminably, not realizing that he has failed to go forward, either in church work or in some other undertaking, when a full surrender to God and trust in Him would have opened up the way. But God's law is the law of progress, and this leaves no time for despondency; it incites to greater watchfulness and fuller response to the call of God. In Truth nothing stands still, and the divine impulsion of the Christ draws all men unto God and reveals the unity of good. There is nothing outside the kingdom of God, not one outcast from His love; but the world's need is to know this. Who needs help? Everyone! Who will carry this message? Surely the answer will come, "Here am I; send me."
